Alabama's Playoff Hopes Hurt by 24-3 Loss to Oklahoma

 Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer expressed frustration over his team's "uncharacteristic" mistakes following a 24-3 loss to Oklahoma on Saturday night, a result that severely damaged the Crimson Tide's College Football Playoff chances.

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe threw three interceptions, and the Crimson Tide (8-3, 4-3 SEC) struggled to recover from a sluggish start. Oklahoma's defense held Alabama to just 70 rushing yards — the lowest total of the season — while the Sooners (6-5, 2-5) dominated on the ground, rushing for 257 yards. Freshman running back Xavier Robinson and quarterback Jackson Arnold powered the attack, helping Oklahoma secure bowl eligibility for the 26th consecutive season.

This defeat marks Alabama's third loss of the season, the most since 2010.

Heading into Week 13, the Crimson Tide were still in contention for a spot in the SEC Championship game, with wins over Oklahoma and Auburn in the final two regular-season games. But Saturday’s loss not only dashed those hopes but also handed No. 10 Georgia the SEC title game berth. Alabama's path to the 12-team CFP now seems precarious. Even with a win over Auburn in next week's Iron Bowl, the Tide will need significant help to make the playoff.

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In a game marked by Alabama's lowest-scoring performance since 2004, DeBoer attributed the loss to early mistakes that put the team behind and allowed momentum to slip away after halftime.

“We’ve got to be better in all areas,” DeBoer said. “There were simple, uncharacteristic mistakes early in the game that didn’t let us gain any momentum. It really came down to the end of the first half, when they scored a touchdown, and the turnovers shifted the game.”

Milroe had a tough night, completing just 11 of 26 passes for 164 yards and rushing for only 7 yards on 15 attempts. The Tide were down 10-3 early in the third quarter when Milroe was intercepted by Oklahoma cornerback Eli Bowen, setting up Robinson's second touchdown run of the night. Five plays later, the Sooners extended their lead to 24-3 when linebacker Kip Lewis intercepted Milroe’s pass intended for tight end Robbie Ouzts and returned it 49 yards for a score.

The 21-point deficit marked Alabama's largest margin of defeat against an unranked opponent since 2003. After Milroe's second interception, the Crimson Tide managed only five first downs and 80 total yards. Milroe became the first Alabama quarterback to throw three interceptions in a game since 2015.

DeBoer acknowledged the broader issues facing the offense, which failed to recover from a sloppy first half that included three punts on Alabama’s first four possessions.

“Early in the game, there were drops, balls lost in the lights, just weird things happening,” DeBoer said. “I thought Jalen was putting the ball where it needed to be. We just didn’t help him out.”

Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables credited his team’s physicality, particularly the Sooners' rushing attack, which churned out 205 yards in the first half — the most Alabama has allowed in a half since 2007. Alabama’s defense was further weakened after linebacker Deontae Lawson, the Tide's second-leading tackler, left the game with a lower-body injury in the second quarter. DeBoer did not provide an update on Lawson’s condition postgame.

“Losing a player like Deontae affects us,” DeBoer said. “He’s a leader and makes a lot of calls on the field. He’s always in control, so it's tough.”

With postseason hopes hanging by a thread, Alabama now faces an uphill battle. Milroe, however, remains focused on the team's future, stressing the importance of finishing strong.

“It’s all about finishing,” Milroe said after the game. “We’ve got to finish the season strong. There’s so much left, and we’ve got to come together, stay focused, and keep competing. Every opportunity we get, we’ve got to seize it.”

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